Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1944, Page 221

ECCLESIASTICAL ART IN SWEDEN
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terization of the connexion with the head architectural schools. If
subsequent investigations of the churches (or literature published
later) should occasion modification of our attributions, we plan
to take the problem in new consideration in the finishing volume
of a province or group of provinces which is intended to give
a comprehensive historical view at the history of the ecclesiastical
art of the whole area.
In order to guarantee to our Inventory work the character
of historical investigations, and not only of a registration we
tried to entrust the preparation of a certain province to a student
who formerly through scientific work had documented his fami-
liarity with the area. This of course could not be done from the
beginning, but only gradually because the work of SVERIGES
KYRKOR in itself was the training school for research of church
art, from which doctor’s theses on such subjects issued.
If the work from the beginning had had sufficient funds, these
specialists had been able to finish their areas in short time. Un-
fortunately the funds granted by the Government were extremely
scanty and private liberality equally buttoned up. As investiga-
tions in archives take a long time, and as photographing and
measuring ought to be done by experts, the work is expensive.
In a word, the Inventory proceeded slowly as regards the pre-
paration of manuscript and pictures and still slowlier as regards
the expensive printing. Many of the original collaborators trained
for this purpose, for want of remuneration had to leave the under-
taking completely and accept appointment to the Museums or
the Universities.
A good help to keep the wheel going was afforded by the
congregations of Stockholm, which practically financed the
descriptions of their own churches almost completely. They were
made on an extended programme. Stockholm is now nearly
complete in 18 volumes to a total of about 3,590 pages with
the exception of Tyska S. Gertrudskyrkan, which is so important
for the history of applied art in Stockholm.
Further, descriptions of the whole province of Blekinge (ex-
cept the town churches), Gástrikland, and Medelpad are now
printed. As for Gothland, the last volumes are now being prepared
for the printer. Manuscript and pictures for the description of
öland are finished. Thus also as regards Dalarna. The large
provinces of Vástergötland, östergötland, and Uppland are in